Don’t Settle for Good: Trusting God’s Great Plan in the Middle of the Struggle

How many times have I encountered situations where I question God… How many times have I

wondered if He was seeing, watching, hearing the things that are going on? I know He does. Of

course, but I look up and wonder why it seems He isn’t doing something, anything about the

struggle that had or has been waging.

Sometimes, if I’m honest, there have been times in my life where I really struggled to trust. Sure

I knew the scripture, I had faith, but maybe that faith I knew in my head was getting lost on the

18inch journey down to my heart and it was easier said than done.

Sometimes, looking out at what was going on, either big picture or closer to home, I began to

wonder what good God would be able to bring out of the struggle currently in front of us.

If I truly believe what God said was true that… His plans were for good, and peace, and a future. Plans that reveal His glory and love and bring His Kingdom to earth, then why did it sometimes appear like there was a never ending tunnel of darkness and uneven paths to walk?

James says; Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

There has been a time or two (or many) where I hear this and I have to consistently remind

myself of this truth. Because let’s be real, most of us are not jumping for joy when… let’s call

them obstacles in our lives rear their ugly heads. And even more times in my life where that joy

is nothing more than a sassy sarcastic comment meant to put out a mask of indifference where

the struggle is concerned. Neither of those things are how God has told us to handle situations that are presented before us.

Instead of immediately turning to God, it preps me to pull up my sleeves, put on my big girl

panties and try and solve the issues in my own strength, with my own knowledge, with my own

energy and in my own time. All the while leaving myself and those around me hungry, angry,

lonely and tired.

I know in my head that I was not meant to do this alone, all the while I charge ahead with my

would be solutions like a bull in a china shop. No peace. Maybe/Maybe not resulting in a

solution.

I like to think of myself as a problem solver. I was raised to be aware of situations and instead

of dwell or sit in them try and find a solution. I am by no means perfect, sometimes I do sit in

the mess a bit longer than I know is right, but most often my mind begins to rehearse possible

solutions or actions that I can take to achieve a better result. I run scenarios in my head and

look for ways to improve the situation not always finding the best case, but often simply a

better case.

Recently, I heard some one speaking about the things of God and something jumped out at

me.

Don’t settle for the good that's going to cost God’s great for you. Anything less than life to the full is good not great.

I love the age old scripture in Jeremiah 29:11. The TPT version is incredibly powerful and spoke to me in a new way.

“Here’s what YAHWEH says to you: “I know all about the marvelous destiny I have in store for you, a future planned out in detail. My intention is not to harm you but to surround you with peace and prosperity and to give you a beautiful future, glistening with hope.”

God is not surprised by the good, bad and ugly that happens in our lives. He is not shocked

when we make the choices, good and bad, that we do in our lives. There is nothing that we can

do or say that throws Him off of His guard. He is innately aware of our situations and reactions

long before we are. He has the answers. Not to be all churchy but…

He is the answer.

This week as I was pondering and meditating on His word, I ran across this passage;

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,

but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

Proverbs 14:4

Now before you go all wack-a-do on me, let me explain! Right above that scripture in my

Bible at some point I wrote “Just because it’s easier doesn't make it better!”

And I couldn’t help but wonder. When I am in the middle of what seems to be never ending

struggle and my solution mind comes round knocking or my strength is waning, am I giving up God’s great for my good because the struggle is to hard? Am I looking for the easy out to get results, the immediate resolve? Or am I digging deep and using the joy of the Lord as my strength? Am I so concerned with the here and now that I am going to miss out on the life to the full later?

When you call on me and come to me in prayer, I will listen to your every word. If you reach out to me, you will find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will not disappoint you,’ declares YAHWEH”…

Jeremiah 29:12-14

If in this season you find yourself in the midst of a battle, be it big or small, remember that

God’s got you. He hears every word you speak. He loves you and everyone with a love so

fierce that He gave everything up to have a chance for you to encounter Him.

Don’t give up. Dig in. Know that you can trust Him and allow that trust to take the 18inch

journey from your head to your heart and penetrate every ounce of your being.

Remember the Joy of the Lord is your strength. You don’t have to have all of the answers because you know the one who does.

And to that little argument in some of our heads I say, anything less than life to the full is good

not great and we won’t settle for anything less than God’s great.

Love you all,